It made sense. The humans in Uttira didn’t have much money because everything they needed was provided. That meant Ashlyn would have no means to pay a druid. But it was still a possibility and gave me a little hope and peace of mind. If Ashlyn wasn’t in Uttira and was smart enough to get a druid’s help to hide, then she’d won her freedom.
In order to be okay with her absence, though, I needed to be sure.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.” I accepted the shovel back and headed for the door.
“Wait. There’s one more thing.”
When I turned to look back at Meg, she blew some kind of glittery dust in my face that smelled like fish. My vision changed instantly, my anger at the idea they thought to memory wipe me barely contained.
“Explain yourself.”
“It’s only a discovery spell that will help us determine who knows about Ashlyn coming into this bathroom. We need it to wipe their memories of us. That way, if things go sideways, you’ll be the only one to blame for her disappearance.”
Her eyes went wide as mine narrowed.
“What the hell, Meg,” Anne said at the same time that Lauv smacked Meg.
“You will wipe their memories of all of us, myself included,” I said, my gaze sweeping the three. “Or are you stupid enough to believe that I’d keep my mouth shut if the Council started questioning me?” I paused for a moment. “And I suggest you stop considering wiping my mind, too. The Council has a method to undo mind wipes if there’s a need. It’s not pretty for the person involved, but it’s survivable. The Council will get their information, regardless.” My look hardened. “Be discreet and be smart. Find Ashlyn.”
I left the druids in the bathroom, and when the mermaids and sirens in the pool hissed at me, I hissed back. They didn’t dive under the water, though. Instead, they hefted themselves out of the pool. I paused, watching their tails fade and legs appear.
“You’re safer in water,” I said.
One of them twitched in place and hissed at me again. My grip tightened on the shovel.
“Use your words. I don’t understand water snake.”
More emerged from the pool.
“I think that’s enough of that,” Lauv said from behind me. “Eliana has no quarrel with you. Do you, Eliana?”
I glanced back at the girls standing behind me. Lauv watched the mermaids, but the other two had their eyes on the glowing crystals in their hands.
“I have no reason for a quarrel with anyone,” I said, annoyed.
“Good.”
As soon as Lauv spoke, the light coming from the crystals died, and the mermaids jumped back into the water.
“Everything’s fine now,” she said. “Let us know if anyone else has a problem with you.”
The three left, and I trailed behind, wondering what exactly the dust in my face had done and when the smell of fish was going to clear from my nose. Breathing in the fresh air while I returned the shovel to my trunk didn’t help either. With my luck, I would be breathing in fish for the rest of the day.
Once again distracted by all the bullpoopy in my headspace, I wasn’t paying attention when I reentered the school. So, I was unprepared when I neared the pools again and someone grabbed me by the front of my shirt and pushed me against the wall.
Eras’s angry dark gaze pinned mine.
“I saw you walk out with the druids. I know it was you.”
He looked to the left of us.
“Bring him,” he growled.
A few of Eras’s lackeys towed a struggling Eugene forward.
“Feed on him,” Eras demanded, giving me a shake. “Feed or I will, and I’ll make sure I take so much that Eugene will spend the rest of his life on his knees for me.”
“Wait, what?” Eugene said. “He’s going to turn me gay?”
